Energy

Despite a slowdown in U.S. consumption, coal is poised to replace oil as the world's top energy source — possibly in the next five years, according to the International Energy Agency. The rise will be driven almost entirely by new energy demands in China and India, the IEA says.

Initiative 300, which banned fracking within Longmont city limits, passed in November despite oil and gas companies raising close to a half million dollars toward defeat of the measure. The ban will now face an industry legal challenge.

The population boom in Williston, N.D., has been a blessing and a curse for many local businesses. Williston, the fastest growing small city in America, is enjoying an oil boom and has seen its population double in the past two years.

At the city's brand new McDonald's, manager Vern Brekhus struggles every day to maintain his staff of nearly 100 workers.

27 speeches on the Senate floor. Each one different. With time running out to extend the Wind Tax Credit, Senator Mark Udall once again took to the floor pushing for its extension.

In his New York Times Magazine column this week, Adam Davidson writes about fracking, the new technique for extracting natural gas that has suddenly become a huge — and controversial — deal in this country.